GAPS Guidelines

GAP.14.1.1.0

A Publication of Global Asset Protection Services LLC

ESTIMATING FIRE PROTECTION WATER DEMANDS

INTRODUCTION
What constitutes an adequate water supply has generated much discussion over the years. NFPA
Standards provide some guidance but leave many areas to judgement. For example, when pipe
schedule designs are used, NFPA 13 provides guidelines only for Light Hazard, Ordinary Hazard
Group 1 and 2 Occupancies, Extra Hazard Group 1 and 2 Occupancies and storage occupancies.
Other occupancies are referred to the Authority Having Jurisdiction. Sprinkler densities and hose
stream demands are given in NFPA 13 for hydraulically designed systems, but, even in these cases,
the system must be designed before the exact requirements are known.
Most facilities contain a variety of hazards requiring sprinkler systems of differing design. Even when
the greatest sprinkler or process water spray demand in a facility has been determined, there may be
other factors which could lead to a larger overall demand. The layout of a facility may require large
hose demands to prevent fire spread to adjacent areas if the initial fire is not controlled. The
protection for yard storage (as found in a paper mill) may create the largest demand. Potential
exposures, e.g., a lumber yard, can also affect the amount of water required for manual fire fighting
efforts.
The purpose of this guide is to provide a consistent approach to determining the adequacy of a water
supply for Global Asset Protection Services (GAPS) serviced risks except Oil and Chemical
Occupancies. The water supply demands required by this method are not meant to define an ideal
supply, but one that would be expected to handle credible fire emergencies. It does not take into
account the redundancy needed for large or high-valued risks, but reflects the requirements for an
initial supply. Finally, as with any method, it cannot take into account all of the factors that could
possibly affect water demands. Good judgement must be exercised when applying the method to a
specific risk.

SCOPE
This guide is to be used for all GAPS serviced risks except Oil and Chemical Occupancies and
applies to all occupancy hazards in those risks from Light to Extra Hazard. Options are provided for
all types of systems including pipe schedule and hydraulically designed systems. Oil and Chemical
Occupancies are covered in GAP.14.1.1.1.

METHOD
Analysis of a risk to determine the potential water supply demand is a two step process. First, the
facility must be evaluated to determine what scenarios might generate the largest demand. Second,
the probable demands under reasonably adverse conditions must be determined and compared for
each of these scenarios.
A water supply should be capable of supplying the largest demand. This is often the combination of
the largest sprinkler system and hose demand, although not always the case.

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Copyright 2015, Global Asset Protection Services LLC

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GAP.14.1.1.0
Building/Occupancy
The water supply for a building or occupancy should be adequate to supply simultaneously each of
the following conditions:

The greatest sprinkler system (or deluge, water spray, foam water or other water based
extinguishing system) demand in the facility. When evaluating the demand for deluge, water spray,
or other special systems, the possibility of simultaneous discharge from multiple systems must be
considered.

The hose stream requirements associated with the occupancy protected.

Any exposure protection required, e.g., water curtains, hose streams, to prevent the spread of fire
to adjacent fire areas.

Yard Storage or External Structure

The water supply for a yard storage or external structure should be adequate to supply
simultaneously each of the following conditions:

The water demand needed to protect against or combat any fire in yard storage or to protect any
external structure, tank, etc.

Any exposure protection required for buildings threatened by a fire in yard storage or in the
external structure.

Exposure Protection
The water supply should be adequate to supply the anticipated water demand needed to protect
buildings threatened by fire from the most severe credible exposure hazard, e.g., hose stream and
open sprinkler protection for a neighboring lumber yard fire.

Catastrophic Hose Demand

The water supply should be adequate to supply the anticipated hose stream and exposure protection
demand needed to protect the remainder of the facility if a fire is uncontrolled in any one fire area.
The determination of the water supply needs for each of these cases can be broken down into two
basic steps:

Sprinkler system (or other water based extinguishing system) demands.

Manual fire fighting demands.

Once these demands are determined, the adequacy of an existing water supply can be evaluated or
the water supply requirements established for a new facility.

SPRINKLER SYSTEM DEMANDS

Sprinkler systems are of two basic designs: hydraulically calculated and pipe schedule. Each design
requires a different approach when estimating the water demand.

Hydraulically Designed Systems

2

The sprinkler density required to protect the hazard (usually specified in gpm/ft or L/min/m over an
area of application, or number of operating sprinklers and sprinkler operating pressure) is selected
from the appropriate standard (NFPA 13, NFPA 15, NFPA 16 or other guide) and the pipe sizing is
based on friction loss calculations. With this type of system, the demand (flow and pressure) needed
at the base of the riser becomes a known quantity.

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Existing Systems
For an existing hydraulically designed system, the system flow and pressure at the base of riser
should be known. To determine the adequacy of the system design, it is necessary to:

Determine the occupancy hazard being protected. Refer to GAP.12.1.1.0 for guidance on
Occupancy Hazard Classification.

Verify that the sprinkler system design is adequate for the current hazard.
If the design is adequate, use the calculated base of riser demand.
If the design is not adequate, recalculate the system demand based on the correct occupancy type
using graphical analysis or hydraulic calculations.

Proposed Systems
For proposed hydraulically designed systems, the flow and pressure required at the base of the riser
will not be known until the system is designed. Therefore, it is necessary to estimate the minimum
flow and pressure required to design the system.
The minimum theoretical flow required is obtained by multiplying the design density by the area of
application. However, water is not distributed evenly to all sprinklers. Sprinklers closer to the riser
discharge more water due to the higher available pressure. As a result, the theoretical flow-rate must
be increased by 10% before it can be used as an estimate.
Where Control Mode Specific Application (CMSA) sprinklers are to be used, the pressure required
should be selected as follows:

Where a density of 0.30 gpm/ft (12.2 L/min/m ) for 3000 ft (279 m ) or less is needed, the
residual pressure available at the estimated demand should be at least 50 psi (3.4 bar). Where the
building is more than one story, nominal 15 ft (4.6 m), in height, the elevation loss should be added
to this pressure.

Densities above 0.30 gpm/ft (12.2 L/min/m ) should have a residual pressure available at the
estimated demand of at least 75 psi (5.2 bar).

Where ESFR sprinklers are to be used, the high discharge pressure at the sprinkler may require
pressures greater than 75 psi (5.2 bar) at the base of the riser.
There will be cases where lower pressures may be adequate to supply the recommended sprinkler
design. A typical example is a strong public water supply at moderate pressures, 40 60 psi
(2.8 4.2 bar), with an extremely flat supply curve.
When in-rack sprinklers are provided, both the ceiling and the in-rack sprinklers should be
hydraulically calculated. The calculations should be balanced at the point where the in-rack and
ceiling flows combine. When the in-rack sprinklers are supplied by a separate riser, the flows should
be balanced at the common connection to the underground.

Pipe Schedule Systems

The older approach in sprinkler system design is the pipe schedule system where each pipe is sized
according to the number of sprinklers that it supplies. This type of system has considerable flexibility,
however, it has a drawback in that the water supply requirements are not known. The sizing was
developed over the years by experience and provided adequate protection with most water
supplies. NFPA 13 provides pipe sizing tables for Light, Ordinary, and Extra Hazard occupancies.
The demand for a pipe schedule system is more difficult to determine due to the variations in spacing
allowed. As with hydraulically calculated systems, a systematic approach is used to develop a
probable demand.
1. Determine the occupancy hazard being protected. (See GAP.12.1.1.0 for guidance on
Occupancy Hazard Classification.)

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2. Determine the density required to protect the hazard. The density should be selected from the
following:
Light Hazard - Hydraulically calculate the sprinkler system, since GAPS does not recommend
light hazard pipe schedule systems.
2

Ordinary Hazard Group 1 - 0.12 gpm/ft for 3000 ft (4.9 L/min/m for 279 m )
Ordinary Hazard Group 2 - 0.17 gpm/ft for 3000 ft (6.5 L/min/m for 279 m )
2

Extra Hazard Group 1 - 0.28 gpm/ft for 3000 ft (11.4 L/min/m for 279 m )
Extra Hazard Group 2 - 0.38 gpm/ft for 3000 ft (14.7 L/min/m for 279 m )
3. Determine the pipe schedule and the spacing between sprinklers and branch lines used to install
the system.
4. Using Table 1, select the system configuration that best matches the system layout, and obtain
the most remote area demand. Note that this demand is applicable at the connection of the last
operating branch line to the cross main.
These tables are based on wet systems and are calculated with a C factor of 120. Dry systems
are calculated with a C factor of 100, so the results must be adjusted. This difference in C factor
will result in an average flow increase of 10% and an average pressure increase of 40%.
Therefore, when dry systems are being analyzed, the flows from the table should be multiplied by
a factor of 1.1 and the pressure by a factor of 1.4.
5. Add the friction loss from the remote area back to the riser. This loss is estimated to avoid
documenting the riser details needed to make an exact calculation. The procedure to use is as
follows:
Assume that the cross main and riser are 6 in. (150 mm).
Using this distance and the flow obtained in step 4, calculate the friction loss back to the base of
the riser using a C factor of 120 for wet systems and a C factor of 100 for dry systems.
Make an estimate of the distance between the remote area of the system and the riser, and
multiply this distance by 300% for center feed systems and 600% for side feed systems.
6. Add the elevation loss to the top of the sprinkler riser.

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GAP.14.1.1.0
TABLE 1
Wet Pipe Sprinkler System Remote Area Demands
(For dry systems multiply flow by 1.1 and pressure by 1.4)
Spacing
Line Head Density

6 Heads
gpm
psi

Side Feed Systems

8 Heads
10 Heads
gpm
Psi
gpm
psi

Center Feed Systems

6 Heads
8 Heads
10 Heads
gpm
psi
gpm
psi
gpm
psi

Ordinary Hazard Pipe Schedule (1953) (2-3-5) !/2 in. orifice, K = 5.6 3000 ft2 Area of Application
*

8.0

12.5

0.12
0.17*

632
729

30
39

665
759

34
44

664
757

40
52

645
737

27
36

648
740

38
51

645
736

35
45

8.5

15.0

0.12*
0.17*

532
744

37
71

572
774

35
68

522
730

41
78

515
721

31
59

513
717

33
64

512
716

38
72

9.0

12.0

0.12
0.17*

605
743

31
46

597
733

36
53

593
728

37
55

613
751

28
41

578
711

29
43

576
708

33
49

10.0

10.0

0.12
0.17*

617
704

29
37

671
765

33
43

666
760

37
48

637
744

24
32

641
731

27
36

640
731

32
42

10.0

12.0

0.12
0.17*

528
717

32
57

558
756

33
60

558
757

37
67

541
735

27
48

540
734

29
53

542
740

33
61

12.0

09.0

0.12
0.17*

587
722

29
43

619
760

32
48

617
758

41
61

607
743

27
40

640
785

34
51

590
725

33
50

12.0

10.0

0.12
0.17*

516
701

31
56

544
739

34
62

542
736

39
70

444
604

24
44

522
709

28
51

522
710

33
59

12.5

08.0

0.12
0.17*

611
698

28
36

650
742

30
39

659
751

38
49

620
707

25
32

630
718

25
32

625
713

31
40

15.0

08.5

0.12*
0.17*

497
696

33
63

517
723

31
59

562
785

40
75

520
715

25
47

537
749

27
52

537
774

33
64

Ordinary Hazard Pipe Schedule (1906) (1-2-3) !/2 in. orifice, K = 5.6 3000 ft2 Area of Application
*

08.0

9.0

0.12
*
0.17*

09.0

8.0

0.12
*
0.17

09.0

12.0

0.12
0.17*

10.0

10.0

0.12
0.17*

12.0

09.0

0.12
0.17*

942
942

37
37

987
987

40
40

1021
1021

45
45

964
964

29
29

977
977

31
31

961
961

36
36

937
937

37
37

969
969

39
39

1019
1019

48
48

926
926

30
30

961
961

31
31

948
948

36
36

657
805

36
53

648
795

38
57

644
790

43
63

635
779

30
45

628
821

34
51

623
764

38
56

662
756

33
42

722
822

38
48

717
817

43
55

690
787

28
36

690
786

32
41

685
780

36
46

627
770

33
49

664
814

36
53

660
809

47
69

693
852

30
45

634
778

32
47

627
769

36
53

Extra Hazard Pipe Schedule !/2 in. orifice, K = 5.6 3000 ft2 Area of Application
07.5

12.0

0.28
0.38

1144
1527

077
137

1102
1475

067
120

1083
1449

067
120

1090
1458

52
96

1067
1428

056
101

1065
1426

065
116

08.0

10.0

0.28
0.38

1150
1535

068
121

1131
1512

055
098

1103
1476

054
096

1101
1473

41
73

1079
1444

043
077

1077
1443

050
089

09.0

10.0

0.28
0.38

1143
1527

078
139

1123
1501

071
126

1096
1466

068
122

1090
1445

53
93

1073
1437

054
075

1074
1438

063
113

10.0

08.0

0.28
0.38

1166
1556

073
130

1110
1484

052
093

1132
1512

054
096

1083
1449

46
77

1105
1477

040
072

1103
1476

049
088

10.0

09.0

0.28
0.38

1148
1533

080
142

1112
1486

069
123

1121
1499

066
118

1098
1456

50
88

1101
1471

054
097

1095
1465

062
111

12.0

07.5

0.28
0.38

1162
1552

084
150

1098
1469

067
120

1130
1509

067
120

1044
1388

54
95

1088
1456

052
096

1108
1481

061
110

Note: Actual density exceeds that shown due to 7 psi minimum head pressure.

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GAP.14.1.1.0
Example:
Building A is a machine shop protected by a wet ordinary hazard pipe schedule sprinkler system. The
sprinkler system is a center feed system with 8 head branch lines. The spacing is 12 ft (3.7 m)
between the branch lines and 10 ft (3 m) between the sprinklers. The elevation from the floor to the
sprinkler heads is 18 ft (5.5 m). The building is protected by a single riser, and the most distant area
is 200 ft (61 m) from the riser.

A machine shop is an Ordinary Hazard Group 2.

2

Required density is 0.17 gpm/ft for 3000 ft (6.9 L/min/m for 279 m ).
From Table 1, the remote area demand is 709 gpm @ 51 psi (2680 L/min @ 3.5 bar).
Friction loss to the riser flowing 710 gpm (2683 L/min) through 600 ft (183 m) of 6 in. (150 mm)
pipe is approximately 12 psi (0.83 bar).
Elevation loss is 0.433 psi/ft 18 ft (0.098 bar/m 5.5 m) or 8 psi (0.55 bar).
Total pressure required is 51 psi + 12 psi + 8 psi (3.5 bar + 0.83 bar + 0.55 bar) or 71 psi (4.9 bar).
Sprinkler demand at the base of the riser is 710 gpm @ 71 psi (2684 L/m @ 4.9 bar).

Exposure Protection
When sprinklers are providing exposure protection and would be expected to operate in conjunction
with the sprinklers in the area under evaluation, the demands for the exposure protection systems
should be added to the sprinkler demands calculated above. For example, the demand for sprinkler
protection for a conveyor opening in a fire barrier wall should be included when analyzing the inside
demand, whereas exposure protection on the outside of a building due to inadequate separation from
yard storage would be included in the analysis of the yard storage area.
GAPS recommends that all sprinkler systems for exposure protection be hydraulically calculated.
Existing pipe schedule exposure protection systems should be calculated to determine the demand.

Multiple System Operation

When more than one sprinkler system is expected to operate, i.e., both in-rack sprinkler and/or
exposure protection systems and ceiling sprinkler systems, the calculated system demands for each
system should be balanced to the highest pressure before the flows are added together to determine
the total sprinkler demand.

MANUAL FIRE FIGHTING (Hose Stream) DEMAND

The selection of a credible water demand for manual fire fighting efforts depends upon several
factors. Some of the factors include the hazard being protected, the provision of inside hose
connections, whether or not the building is of combustible construction, the exposures to the area
being evaluated, and the catastrophic loss potential.

Flow Requirements
The water requirement for hose streams is based on occupancy hazard. The base hose stream
demand, for both inside and outside hose streams, for sprinklered occupancies is as follows:

Light and Ordinary Hazard - 500 gpm (1890 L/min).

Extra Hazard, Group 1 - 750 gpm (2835 L/min).
Extra Hazard, Group 2 - 1000 gpm (3780 L/min).
High Piled Storage - Refer to GAP Guidelines GAP.8.1.0, GAP.10.2.1, GAP.10.2.3, GAP.10.2.6
and GAP.12.1.1.0.

This basic hose demand should be increased by 25% when any of the following conditions exist:

Combustible construction The presence of combustible building materials requires an

additional hose demand to limit building damage.

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Possible delay in public fire department response Many sprinkler designs contemplate fire
control, but not extinguishment. The delay in public protection response may allow the fire to grow
and require additional water for manual fire fighting.

Minimum protection design Designs in accordance with minimum NFPA standards, but less
than recommended by the GAPS, may not provide the desired degree of fire control and require
additional water for manual fire fighting.

Limited access Occupancies, located in a remote interior section of a large building, resulting
in limited access may delay or inhibit manual response.

The demand for hose streams should be included, regardless of whether the hydrants are on public
or private mains, since the fire department will use public hydrants located on mains supplying private
mains if private hydrants are not available. GAPS expects hydrant protection to be available and, if
not provided, hydrants should be recommended.
Where manual fire fighting is the essential line of defense, as in the protection of yard storage,
protection from exposure fires, or when the sprinklers have failed to control the fire, alternative
methods must be used to determine the hose demand. Due to the varying nature of yard storage, i.e.,
commodities, piling arrangements, hydrant layout, etc., it is difficult to provide guidelines that will
cover all situations. Each situation will require individual review, and the following features should be
considered in any evaluation:

Location and type of yard hydrants.

Number of hydrants that may be used.
Presence and size of monitor nozzles.
Distance between the storage and plant buildings or structures.
Construction of exposed buildings.
Layout and size of piles.
Commodity being stored.
Location of plant doors with regard to hydrants.

Water demands may be as low as 1000 gpm (3780 L/min) for small yard storage areas or as high as
6000 gpm (22,680 L/min) or more for large log storage piles. As a general rule, 500 gpm (1890 L/min)
should be available for each yard hydrant that might be expected to be used. The demand for monitor
nozzles should be based on the rating of the nozzle at 100 psi (6.9 bar) and straight stream flow. If
the specific rating is not known, use 500 gpm (1890 L/min).
Where there is a severe exposure, e.g., lumber yard, flammable liquid tanks, yard storage of rolled
paper, similar logic should be used when evaluating the exposure protection requirements. Guidance
for log storage and other severe hazards can be found in other GAPS publications or GAPS
Guidelines.
While GAPS expects the sprinkler systems to control any fire that may occur, occasionally
sprinklers may fail. This may be due to an impairment, or be the result of an occupancy change
where the sprinklers have not yet been reinforced to protect the new hazard. While these situations
may not be predictable, they pose problems to manual firefighting which must be considered.
Small facilities with a single fire area would not usually require more than the basic sprinkler and hose
demand for manual firefighting. Larger facilities with several fire areas will require additional water to
prevent the spread of fire. When sprinklers have failed to control the fire, the amount of additional
water needed will depend on:

The type of cutoff and rating, e.g., fire wall vs. fire barrier wall, 1 hr vs. 2 hr rating, or the separation
between the hazard and the exposed building or structure. (See GAP.2.2.1.)

Building construction.
Hazards in adjacent areas.
Size of the fire area burning out of control.

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Some of the water demand allocated for sprinkler protection of the occupancy may be available for
use to prevent spread of fire when the sprinklers have failed to control a fire. It may be possible to
shut-off sprinkler systems that are not operating effectively, e.g., mains have broken following roof
collapse, if the sprinkler control valves are located outside and are accessible.
Secondary supplies (see GAP.14.0.1) can also be used to supply the additional hose demands
required for manual fire fighting efforts when provided. The demand for a specific risk should be
estimated based on the above factors. Fire departments may use several thousand gpm for hose
when a fire is out of control and this should not be overlooked.

Pressure Requirements
As a general rule, 75 psi (5.2 bar) should be available for hose stream use. Lower pressures are
acceptable in areas where there is a strong public fire department equipped with pumpers to boost
the public water pressure, or where alternate suction sources are available, such as cooling tower
basins, ponds, rivers or swimming pools.

TOTAL WATER DEMAND

The total water demand is estimated by totaling the sprinkler and hose stream demands. Where the
pressures required for the sprinkler and hose demands differ, the flow required for hose should be
added to the sprinkler flow at the required sprinkler pressure. This total demand and pressure is then
compared with the water supply to determine if the existing supply is adequate.

DURATION OF WATER SUPPLY

Water supplies should be capable of delivering the anticipated demand as long as fire fighting efforts
are necessary. In reality, this duration depends on a number of factors including the occupancy
hazard, building construction, and the layout of the facility. The following should be used for water
supply evaluation purposes, barring unusual circumstances:

Light Hazard Occupancies 1 hours.

Ordinary Hazard Group 1 & 2 Occupancies - 2 hours.
Extra Hazard Occupancies - 3 hours.

Warehousing Occupancies - Refer to the applicable NFPA standards and associated GAPS
Guidelines.

SUMMARY
The estimation of the water demand for a facility is a complex issue, and not one that can be
determined by a simple formula. The hazards, exposures, building features, facility layout, fire
department availability, and many other hazards must be taken into consideration, and good
judgement used when evaluating a risk.

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